Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is reportedly in contact with Atlético Madrid over Julian Alvarez, even if he'll have real trouble going by the La Liga club's hardline stance on selling him this summer.

The Argentine has packed more into his career than most players achieve in a lifetime.

He has won the World Cup, Copa América, Champions League, Premier League and Copa Libertadores, while starring for River Plate, Man City, Atlético Madrid and Argentina.

Very few forwards are on the market with that combination of elite experience and years still ahead of them.

His numbers tell the story.

Alvarez scored 36 goals in 103 appearances for City despite often competing with Erling Haaland for minutes. Since joining Atlético Madrid in 2024, he has taken another step, bagging 49 goals in 106 appearances while becoming Diego Simeone's main attacking threat.

Across his senior club career, he has already scored 139 goals in 331 matches, while adding 15 goals in 58 appearances for Argentina.

Those statistics explain why Europe's biggest clubs continue to chase him. Alvarez is not simply a finisher either, he presses relentlessly, runs the channels, links play and is equally comfortable leading the line or playing just behind another striker.

Perhaps most importantly, he has repeatedly delivered under pressure. Whether it was helping Argentina lift the World Cup, winning the Treble with City or becoming Atlético's focal point after his club-record move, Alvarez has never looked overawed by the biggest occasions.

If Arsenal genuinely have an opportunity to sign him, it is difficult to think of many forwards who would suit Arteta's system better.

That possibility remains complicated, though.

According to talkSPORT journalist Ben Jacobs, Arsenal continue to explore a deal for Alvarez despite the striker making no secret of his ambition to join Barcelona.

Jacobs adds that Berta is in discussions with his former club Atlético and believes the Spanish side would currently be more willing to negotiate with a non-La Liga rival than strengthen Barcelona.

He also reports that although Alvarez has a £425 million release clause written into his £115,000-per-week deal, there are provisions allowing certain Champions League clubs to negotiate at a significantly lower figure.

However, any deal still appears extremely difficult.

Atlético chief executive Miguel Ángel Gil Marín has publicly insisted Alvarez is not for sale, claiming the club would reject offers even as high as £170 million.

That declaration underlines just how important the Argentina international has become since arriving from City.

Barcelona have not completely abandoned hope of signing Alvarez, meaning Arsenal could face competition if the situation changes later in the window.

For now, though, Arteta's side may well be keeping the lines of communication open while monitoring developments.

It remains one of the toughest transfers to complete this summer, but Arsenal's continued interest says everything about how highly they rate one of world football's most complete forwards.